Srinagar, Sep 12 (KNO): The agitation by employees of the National Health Mission (NHM) continued across Jammu and Kashmir for the fourth consecutive day on Saturday, with around 12,000 workers remaining off duty in support of their long-pending demands.
The strike has affected healthcare activities at several locations, with protesting employees insisting that they would continue their agitation until the government provides a concrete and written assurance on their demands.
The employees have been seeking revision of their remuneration, removal of pay disparities with NHM workers in other states, a comprehensive policy for job security and regularisation, besides social security measures including EPF, ESI, insurance coverage, leave salary and post-retirement benefits.
As NHM employees continued to remain on strike, their absence affected routine services and created difficulties for patients at various health institutions.
The employees said they were not seeking any immediate or unreasonable benefit but wanted the government to recognise their contribution to the healthcare system and provide them with a fair and secure service structure.
"We have been working for years in hospitals, health centres and different national health programmes, often under difficult conditions. Our demand is that the government should address the disparity in our salaries and provide us with a clear policy for our future," protesting employees told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Another group of employees said repeated assurances had failed to provide them with a permanent solution. "We have heard assurances on several occasions, but the basic issues remain unresolved. This time, we want a written commitment and a clear timeline so that there is no ambiguity about what will happen to our demands," they said.
Employees also maintained that they understood the difficulties being faced by patients because of the strike but argued that the responsibility for resolving the crisis rested with the authorities.
"We are part of the healthcare system and we do not want patients to suffer. But our grievances have also remained pending for years. We want the government to sit with us and resolve the issues instead of allowing the situation to continue," a protesting employee said.
Another employee said the demand for pay parity was among the major concerns of the workforce. "NHM employees are performing essential duties, but there is a considerable difference in remuneration and service benefits. We want the government to examine this disparity and ensure that employees working under the same mission are treated fairly," the employee said.
Meanwhile, political leaders from different parties continued to visit protest sites at various locations and extend support to the agitating employees. Employees said they would welcome any meaningful intervention that could lead to a written agreement and resolution of their demands.
Amid the continuing strike, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo on Saturday appealed to NHM employees to call off their agitation and return to work, saying the government was conscious of their concerns and was making efforts to resolve the issues.
Speaking to reporters in Anantnag, Itoo said some demands could be addressed by the Jammu and Kashmir administration, while several others required intervention, approval or financial support from the Government of India.
"If we go to protest like this, I don't think it will be right. Sometimes, the government is forced to take a step that we do not want to take," she said.
The minister described NHM employees as an essential component of the healthcare delivery system and expressed concern over the impact of their prolonged absence on patient care.
"They are our own people. They are our own children. They are our own brothers and sisters," Itoo said while appealing to the employees to resume their duties.
Itoo said the J&K Government had already forwarded a proposal concerning the demands of NHM employees to the Government of India, particularly on matters beyond the administrative and financial powers of the UT administration.
"For what is not in our hands, we have already sent your proposal to the Government of India," she said.
The minister also said she had personally raised the issue of low remuneration of NHM employees with the Union Health Minister during her recent visit to New Delhi. "I told him that their pay is very low. It is very expensive these days. He has accepted it," she said, adding that the J&K Government would send another reminder to the Centre for early intervention.
The Health Minister said other demands, including those related to leave salary and pension benefits, were also being examined.
NHM employees continued their strike on Saturday and reiterated that they wanted a written and time-bound assurance before considering withdrawal of the agitation. The employees said they remained committed to their duties and were ready for dialogue with the government, but maintained that their prolonged concerns could no longer be addressed through verbal assurances alone—(KNO)